Air-cushion tire



H. S. WILLIAMS.

AIR CUSHION TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. 1919.

1,334,204. Patented Mar. 16, 1920.

I 2 SHEET$-SHEET l- DIET-bl HARRY S. WILLIAMS, 013 {MIN ANTOlSI'It), ASHIG'INUE tlF UN A L15 TO OTTO KELLER, OE thrill ANTQNIU. 'lEXJlfsl.

11 ,331 float.

Specification of Le tters hetent.

, tlil lilllflltbd M 41.. Hi, 1.9724).

Application filed July 1%, 191's. .ilcrial lilo. 31.1,?39'1'.

To wit whom it may eouccru:

lie it known that l. Hanoi it. WiLmmus, a citizen ot the United States, residing at hi: 1 Antonio, in the county otli iii n. and, 7 ate of Texas, heme i .ted oer new useful lniprorcluents in .hir-llushim s; and l do declare the Following to be a (ll-ell, and exact description vention, such as will enable others s 'l'h? art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to resilient tires, and it relates more specifically to an iinproved air-cushion tire.

One object of this invention is to generally improve devices of this character by providing; an improved structure which is exceedingly coi'ivenieut, eti'ective and durable, and which can be manutactured at a relatively low cost.

Other objects and advantages may become apparent to persons who read the tol lowing details of destriptlon in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a. th'agniental View partly in side elevation and partly in section, the sertions being taken in diiferent planes which intersect the axis of rotation at right an glee.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail View, the section being taken substantially along; the line 2-2 01 Fig. 1..

Fig. 3 is a detail View illustrating a fragment of a filler member of slightly modified construction.

Fig. lis a View similar to Fig. l, but illus trating' a modified form 01" the invention.

llig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View, the section being taken substantially along the line 5+5 of Fig. 4-.

6 is a sectional detail View illustrating a fragment of the filler member of the construction shown in Figs. 4: and 5, the sec tion being taken along the lines 6----6 of Figs. at and 5.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts throughout the see oral views, and in which the Wheel spokes and rim are illustrated merely for the sale of showing the relation of the tire to the Wheel,

The invention, as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises a flexible casing 1 of any appropriate kind, a resilient filler member 52 and a series of resilient cushioning mem bers or balls 3. 'lhe balls 3 may be of rubber or other he lie and impervious mate rial, and. the cavity out each ball may be tilled \vith compressed air or i1ther elastic fluid.

llhe tiller member is preler:tbly formed oil rubber, although may be composed of any appropriate resilient or lleirlble unite rial. The tiller inenfiber 2 is "oriued with an. annular series Oil alteriutte up i-ul rece: or chambers 1 and partitions and the opsit' ht Walls or sides elf each cavity ed with slits 6 which cross one another substanti:tlly at right an ,5, these slits ronnnunicatinp; With the interior and. exterior of the cavities so as to form juxtaposed tongues 7 which combine to normally close the opening through which a ball or spherh cal men'iber 3 may be inserted and, removed. It will be understood that any appropriate means (not shown) .may be oi'ru iloyccl for spreading the tongues .7, and it should. also be understood that the Wall of the cavity 4; :may be expanded suiil' .1tly to permit the balls 3 to enter. When the tongues 7 are released, they return to their normally juxtaposed relation by their inherent resiliency or elasticity.

From the foregoing description, it will. be seen. that after the balls 3 have been inserted and the tongues 7 have returned to their normal position, the surij'ace of the filler 2 is smooth and unbroken, so that it fits snugly Within the casing l, and the tongues 7 are held by the casing in their normal juxtaposed relation.

Referring to the modified form of filler member 2" shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that the ends of the tongues 7 are concavcd, or in other WOlC s, an opening 8 is formed between the tree ends of the tongues 7 so that the spreading tool may be easily insertcd between these tongues.

Referring to the modified fl'Ol'Ill shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the casing 10 and filler 11. are united throughout their major extent, that is, from the tread portion to the outer ends 12 of a series of slits 1.3 which cross a series of slits let. Each of these slits l3 and 1.4; eoi'nuiunicate with the interior and e terior of one of the CttV'ltlGfil or chambers t at the rim engaging portirui of the filler, and tongues are thereby formed in normally juxtaposed relation to one another.

Although the casing and filler are united throughout and beyond the tread portion, as

previously described, they are disunited throughout the length of the slits 13, to increase the flexibility of the portion of the tire through which the balls 3 are inserted. It will be seen, however, that the rim engaging portion of the casing 10 coacts with the rim for securely holding the tongues 15 in their juxtaposed relation to one another. thereby providing an unbroken inner surface at the joint between the casing 10 and filler 11. V I I Although I have described this embodiment of my invention very specifically, it not intended to limit theinvention to these exact details of construction and arrangement, rbut changes may be made within the scope of the inventive ideas as implied and claimed.

7 What I claim as my invention is: 1. In a tire, a flexible casing, a resilient filler in the casing, said filler being provided with an annular series of alternating spherical cavities and partitions, and hollow re 1 -si"l-ient.spherical members normally fitted respective y' in said cavities, a wall of each of said cavities being ll fiYllPll with slits rossing one another and eommuniratimy with the interior and exterior of 11 id wall so as to provide normally juXtap(:- -ie l tongues which can be separated to permit insertion and re moval of one of the spherical men'ibers, said tongues being adapted to re ume their uormal. relation by their inherent resiliency.

In a tire. a flexible easing. a resilientliller in the casing, said filler being provided with an annular series of altmnatin; spheria1 cavities and partitions. and hollow resilient sphericzl members normally fitted respectively in said cavities. each ot the opposite upright Walls of earl] ea rity bein; formed with slits that cross one another and communicate with the interior and exterior so as to provide normally juxta 'iosed tongues which can be separated to permit: one oi the spherical members to be inserted and re-- moved, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto el' my hand.

HARRY S. WllJl/IAMS.

ill 

